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Recommended: Children's literature racism

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird there are many themes that are central to the novel’s plot. These themes are universal and teach us many things about life and how people are. However, there is one in particular that stands out. As Scout, Jem, and Dill all discover, education does not just occur in a classroom. It takes place through their own lives and the experiences they go through.
The theme that education does not just occur in the classroom can be seen very clearly when looking at the three children in the novel. Scout, Jem, and Dill are all forced to come to terms with the harsh realities of racism in their small southern town of Maycomb. It is through Tom Robinson’s trial and the town’s reaction to it, that they see racism firsthand. For example, a lynching mob shows up at the jail when Tom is being kept there. The lynching mob throws away all reason and is driven by their need for blood, a need that is only fueled by their own racist hearts. Because the children see this occurrence and how it almost gets their father killed, they now have an understanding of just how far racism controls people and will push them to commit irrational acts.
Another real life experience in the novel that teaches them a lesson about racism is the ultimate conviction of Tom Robinson. Despite evidence to the contrary, the jury still finds Tom guilty of raping Mayella. In response to this, Dill cries, Jem refuses to acknowledge that the trial ever happened, and Scout must wrestle with how a jury could come to such a decision. She finally uncovers the truth, and that is racism. It is the only thing that could have pushed the jury to their decision. None of these events happened in the classroom, but taught the children more than they coul...

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... point of near death herself all for the sake of Genocide. These are all things she experienced in her own life outside of school. Though topics similar to this are taught in a classroom (like Scout was taught about Hitler), to experience this cruelty first hand is something that can’t be taught by a teacher. She ultimately learned that the world is an unjust place full of judgment, racism, and entitlement.
Though To Kill a Mockingbird was written many years ago, it is still an important novel to be exposed to. The themes that are found in it are universal and can span time periods as well as cultures. In particular, it is clear that sometimes education in the classroom gets in the way of the real education that occurs in our everyday lives. Not only is this theme present in today’s music, but it is also in movies and other novels, proving its profound presence.

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